This particular thoroughfare connecting Belgrave-Gembrook Road and Emerald-Monbulk Road, now home to many local and major business, has changed greatly over the last century. This dirt road was once home to the first Emerald butcher, established by Robert John Couper around 1900. Located on the corner of Main Street and Monbulk Road, the butcher was first run out of Couper's home, then it moved into a shop built on their property and customers were most often served by his wife Mabel. The butcher was then purchased by the Madigan Family in 1924 and run by Timothy James Madigan following his return from World War One service. Animals were slaughtered on-site, then stored in an underground cellar. Meat was then purchased in the store-front or delivered to local towns and homes by horse-drawn carriage and, eventually, delivery vans.This photograph demonstrates with incredible clarity just how greatly the local Emerald township has changed over the last century, especially on a thoroughfare as central as the one pictured.This black and white photograph features a dirt street lined with trees and buildings. On the left, a street sign points to locations such as Lilydale, Monbulk, Gembrook, Ferntree Gully, Macclesfield, and Melbourne. Two women stand behind the sign, waiting to cross the road. A butcher stands on the right side of the street and car is parked out front. Telephone poles are dotted along the road, both disappearing around a corner and into a horizon of trees. On the photograph's reverse is some handwritten text.Rear, handwritten in ink: "Emerald. / Mar. 1948."1940s, emerald, madigan family

The buildings are probably rare remnant examples of their type in the local area and as such are significant to the settlement of Menzies Creek. The dwelling is significant as a longstanding marker of the Madigan family who were original settlers in the area. Its retention in its site close to the road boundary expresses and maintains a connection with early settlement and rural lifestyles in Menzies Creek over the last century. The old shed is of interest as a local example of bush construction, particularly in context with the cottage and farm environs. Without the life of the farm and other elements presumed now gone, its value is lessened.Folder containing information pertaining to the history of Madigan Cottage, Menzies Creek. NB: the shed was demolished in November 2001 and the cottage burned down sometime later. Contents:- Letter, Southern Sherbrooke Historical Society to Shire of Yarra Ranges, dated 9th March 2001, re. sale of property and need for it to be included in shire's Heritage Study. -Letter, shire to society, dated 20th March 2001, reply to above. -Letter, shire to society, dated 15th May 2001, follow-up to above, requesting more information. -Letter, society to shire, dated 30th May 2001, responding to above and including a copy of information previously sent to Chris Johnston, Heritage Study consultant. -Letter, society to shire, undated, noting intention to lodge an objection to proposed application for development on site. -Letter, shire to society, dated 22nd October 2001, advising of consultation meeting. -Yarra Ranges Shire Heritage Study Place Nomination form for Madigan Cottage, prepared by Marian Matta, includes nine colour photos and diagram showing where photos were taken from. -Black and white copies of photos. -A3 copy of real estate advertisement, "Mount Evergreen Estate" dated 21st April 1924. -A3 map showing proposed resubdivision boundary variation, drawn up for Mr. P. Melville, undated but 1990s. -Copy of application for a planning permit, dated 6th August 2001, including letter by Nick Jonkers describing proposed new buildings, site map showing current vegetation, letter re. proposed removal of vegetation, subdivision plan dated March 1998, and larger scale map printed from shire website on 10th August 2001. -5 A3 sheets showing site and house plans drawn up for Mr & Mrs N. Jonkers, dated July 2001.madigan cottage, menzies creek, madigan family, mount evergreen, patrick madigan

The building in the foreground of the image is likely Robert Couper's - Emerald's first butchery which was established in approximately 1900 and later owned by the Madigan family. It was located near the corner of what are now Main Street and Monbulk Road, near today's Madigan Way. If the butchery in the photograph - which was likely taken in the first decade of the twentieth century - is indeed Couper's, this photo is likely looking down Main Street from the intersection with Monbulk Road. These copies were made in 2006.This photograph captures an earlier phase of Emerald's development, not long after the opening of the first Butchery and long before the town had sealed roads.This item includes photographs a, b, and c. The printed black and white photographs depicts an unsealed road, following the centre of the image before curving right over a hill and out of sight. In the background, four wooden structures are present beside the road on the left. In the foreground on the right, another wooden building with a chimney and a metal verandah and roof stands a distance back from the road. In a and c - identical photographs - two distant figures - likely women - stand under the verandah. In b - a slightly different phootgraph from the same angle - a horse and cart is in front of the building with several individuals. Behind the house on the right, trees with sparse leaves rise into the sky, nearly reaching the top of the frame. In the far background on the left, a wooded hill rises above the row of buildings. a is very blurry and a significantly lower quality copy than b or c.a, b, and c Obverse: "Emerald Township" b Obverse, Printed: "COPIES MAY BE PURCHASED FROM TH" b and c Obverse, in-photo sign (unclear in a): "BUTCHERS" a Reverse: "10 27 EMEF24~1.JPG 5 16.12.06 18.12.06" b Reverse: "J9505398 4/6 00000004.jpg / JOB3819505398 Emerald Old Emerald 2 adjt" c Reverse: "J9505398 1/6 00000001.jpg / JOB3819505398 Emerald early 1.jpg Kevin+"emerald, 1900s

Captain Maddigan and his family were at Camp 4.Black and white photograph of Captain Maddigan, peak cap, kneeling with his 5 year old daughter standing, straddled across his left leg. Behind is a bushy tree and the Australian flag. 2/3 in the photograph an Army hut, right of picture, with hedge and a man behind Captain Maddigan.madigan, captain, 1944, camp 4 garrison